Post on 14-Dec-2015
Political is Personal: Social Workers United
Ethics in the Trenches: Boundaries Ethics in the Trenches: Boundaries for Helping Professionalsfor Helping Professionals
Marilyn Peterson Armour, Ph.D., MSWMarilyn Peterson Armour, Ph.D., MSW
University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austinmarmour@mail.utexas.edu
www.marilynpetersonarmour.org
CURRENT CONTEXT
Codes of Ethics
1. Highlight high profile violations.
2. Focus on behaviors.
Licensing Boards and Professional
Associations
1. Externalize authority
2. Make regulatory function primary.
DEFINITION OF A BOUNDARY
Boundaries are limits
that allow for a safe
connection based on need.
Two Pillars: 1) Spiritual Base
The Ethos of Care:
The client’s needs will come first and ahead of our own.
2) Secular Base: Basis of Power
I. Role
II. Expertise
III. Client’s Struggle
A. Struggle with Self
B. Authority
C. Expectations
IV. Self-Worth
What Brings the Professional’s Power To Life?
Client’s Need.
Lack of Resolution and Relief.
Inability to Care for Self.
“Letting Go as a Necessary Condition for Receiving Help.
Client Vulnerability(Disparity between client & professional)
Nature of the problem
Gender of client & professional
Educational level of client & professional
Socio-economic class of client & professional
Race of client & professional
Age of client & professional
Sexual orientation of client & professional
Life-cycle stage and associated life-crises
Client Vulnerability:Heightened by being in a relationship with us.
• Client is in a foreign territory.
• Decisions colored by co-operation & compliance.
• Client cannot evaluate our competence.
• Client cannot negotiate rights.
• Choices are narrowed by “monopoly”.
• Choices restricted by time.
• Choices influenced by anxieties about future consequences
Two Pillars: 2) Secular Base
Power DifferentialWe will use our greater power in the relationship not for our own ends but
to protect the client’s greater vulnerability in the relationship.
Putting the 2 Pillars Together
Care
SAFETY Need Power
ZONE
Trust
CLIENT VULNERABILITY
Denial of Power/ Denial of ImpactDenial of Power/ Denial of Impact
What makes us ambivalent, unsure, and uncertain?
Cultural Attitudes about Power.
Family Attitudes and Experiences.
Deficiency Model of Evaluation.
Functioning in a Paradox.
Definition of a Boundary Violation
Boundaries are the limits that allow for a safe connection based on the client’s needs. When these limits are altered, what is allowed in the relationship becomes ambiguous. Such ambiguity is experienced as an intrusion into the sphere of safety. The pain from a violation is frequently delayed (and may not occur at all) and the violation may not be recognized or felt until harmful consequences emerge.
Reversal of RolesReversal of RolesChange in Status
Elevated
N O R M A L
Scapegoated
SecretsSecrets
SECRETS ARE ORGANIZED AROUND THE PROFESSIONAL’S NEED
Protect Illicit Behaviors. Give the Professional an Advantage. Gain the Client’s Co-operation. Secret
Professional Client
Secrets:Secrets: Cont. Cont.
OW OW OW
Prof. Cl. Prof. Cl. Prof. Cl.
OW: Outside WorldProf: Professional
Cl: Client
Double BindDouble Bind
Conflict of Interest
Fear of Loss
C L I E N T’S O P T I O N S
Loss of what Loss of Safetythe client needs
P A R A L Y S I S
Indulgence of Professional PrivilegeIndulgence of Professional Privilege Self Gratification Supercedes Obligation.
Entitlement Supercedes Mutuality.
The Client Belongs to Me Supercedes the
Client’s Right.
Translation That Establishes Congruence
I KNOW BEST.
I AM DOING THIS FOR YOU.
THIS WON’T HURT YOU.
Establishment of a SystemEstablishment of a System(Series of Relational Changes)
Indulgence of Professional Privilege(misdirects or changes the power differential)
Creation of a Secret(creates a dual agenda)
Reversal of Roles(restructures of relationship)
Double Binding of the Client(maintains the system and reinforces
the professional’s privilege)
Ethics LaboratoryEthics LaboratoryVignette QuestionsVignette Questions
1) What are the professional’s needs?
2) What secrets have been created?
3) How have the roles been reversed? How does it change the power differential?
4) How is the client double bound? (any action is a loss)
5) How does the therapist justify behavior?
How Do I Respond?How Do I Respond?
Violations You Create
Self-Protection
Versus
Self-Examination
How Do I Respond?How Do I Respond?
Violations From the Client
Personal Comfort
Versus
Honesty and Care
How Do I Respond?How Do I Respond?
Violations From a Colleague
Personal Comfort
Versus
Concern for Colleague/ Clients
Red Flags and Danger ZonesRed Flags and Danger Zones
1. Making a client special: encouraging dependency.
2. Personal sharing.
3. Dual relationships with clients, colleagues or superiors: Working in a “closed” system/ isolation.
4. Making your own rules: altering your limitsSeeing yourself as unique or above the rules OR victimed, unsupported, or misunderstood.
Red Flags and Danger ZonesRed Flags and Danger Zones
5. Grandiosity: I’m the only one who can help you.
• Presence of conditions conducive to burnout: Constant pressure to do more with less.Using work to satisfy all needs.
• Lack of definition: job description, written policies & procedures.
• Ideology before client need.
• Promising the client loyalty/availability.